Learn About Pet Food Labels

by Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

As Americans become more health conscious, they are reading food labels and choosing products more carefully. Many people are extending this scrutiny to food for their pets as well. Pet food labels are regulated by different rules than foods for human consumption, but reading and understanding a pet food label can help consumers make proper food choices for their pets, too.

Pet food labeling is regulated at two levels. The federal regulations, enforced by the Food and Drug Administration's Center for Veterinary Medicine, establish standards for all animal feeds: proper identification of the product, net quantity statement, manufacturer's address, and proper listing of ingredients. Some states also enforce their own labeling regulations. Many of these follow the model pet food regulations of the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO), a nongovernment advisory body with representatives from all states. These model regulations are more specific, covering aspects of labeling such as product name, guaranteed analysis, nutritional adequacy statement, feeding directions, and calorie statements.

Product Name

The product name is the first part of the label a consumer notices, and can be a key factor in the decision to buy a product. For that reason, manufacturers often use fanciful names or other techniques to emphasize a particular aspect. Many product names incorporate the name of an ingredient to highlight its presence in the product. Consumers are often confused, however, as to how much of a named ingredient is actually in the product. The percentages of named ingredients in the total product are dictated by four AAFCO model rules.

The first of these is the "95 percent" rule. It applies to products consisting primarily of meat, poultry or fish, such as some of the canned products. They have simple names, such as "Dave's Beef for Dogs." In this example, at least 95 percent of the named ingredient must be beef, exclusive of water for processing. Counting the added water, it still must comprise 70 percent of the product.

Since ingredient lists must be in the proper order of predominance by weight, "beef" should be the first ingredient listed, followed often by water, and then other components such as vitamins and minerals. If the name includes a combination of ingredients, such as "Dave's Chicken and Fish Cat Food," the two together must comprise 95 percent of the total weight, and there must be more chicken than fish.

The second rule, the "25 percent" or "dinner" rule, applies to many canned and dry products. If the named ingredient(s) comprise at least 25 percent of the product exclusive of water for processing, but less than 95 percent, the name must include a qualifying descriptive term, such as "Dave's Beef Dinner for Dogs." Many descriptors other than "dinner" are used, however. "Platter," "entrÇe," "nuggets," and "formula" are just a few examples. Because, in this example, only one-quarter of the product must be beef, it would most likely be found third or fourth on the ingredient list.

Since the primary ingredient is not the named ingredient, and may in fact be an undesired ingredient, the list should always be checked before purchase. For example, a cat owner may complain that her cat's "chicken dinner" smells like fish. She avoids buying fish, since her cat doesn't like it, but she is more concerned that the food might be spoiled. In reading the ingredient list, however, she discovers that the primary ingredient is indeed fish.

If more than one ingredient is included in a "dinner" name, they must total 25 percent and be listed in the same order as found on the ingredient list. Each named ingredient must be at least 3 percent of the total, too. Therefore, "Dave's Chicken and Fish Dinner Cat Food" must have 25 percent chicken and fish, and at least 3 percent fish.

The third rule is the "3 percent" or "with" rule. It is intended to apply to ingredients highlighted on the label but which appear outside the product name. This allows manufacturers to point out the presence of minor ingredients that are not or cannot be added in sufficient quantity to merit a "dinner" claim. For example, a "Bacon Dinner," with 25 percent bacon, would not be feasible, nor would it most likely be palatable or nutritionally sound. However, both "Dave's Beef Dinner for Dogs" and "Dave's Chicken Dinner for Dogs" could include a side burst "with bacon" if at least 3 percent bacon is added. If the burst reads "with bacon and cheese," it must contain at least 3 percent bacon and 3 percent cheese.

Some manufacturers have been using the "with" designation as part of the product name, which may give the impression that more of an ingredient is present than really is. For example, one may not expect a "Dave's Dog Food with Beef" to contain as much as "Dave's Beef Dinner," but not as little as 3 percent. The AAFCO Pet Food Committee is considering new model regulations to address this issue.

Under the fourth rule or "flavor" rule, a specific percentage is not required, but a product must contain an amount sufficient to be able to be detected. In the example of "Dave's Beef Flavor Dog Food," the word "flavor" must appear on the label in the same size, style and color as the word "beef." The corresponding ingredient may be beef, but more often it is another substance that will give the characterizing flavor, such as beef meal or beef byproducts. Pet foods often contain "digests," which are materials treated with heat, enzymes and acids to form concentrated natural flavors. Stocks or broths are also occasionally added. Whey is often used to add a milk flavor. Often, labels will bear a claim of "no artificial flavors." Actually, artificial flavors are rarely used in pet foods. The major exception to that would be artificial smoke or bacon flavors, which are added to some treats. Net Quantity Statement

It's important to check the net quantity statement when comparing products. Today, many canned products are sold in nonstandardized sizes, so even though the products look the same, one may be a better buy. Also, dry products may differ greatly in density, especially some of the "lite" products. Thus, a bag that may typically hold 40 pounds of food may only hold 35 pounds of a food that is "puffed up" with air.

When new federal regulations go into effect requiring "dual declarations" on pet food labels, not only will the customary "pound" or "ounce" declaration be made, but a unit of metric measurement, such as "kilogram" or "gram" ("kg" or "g") will also appear on the label. Many pet food labels already bear both measurements.

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